The Doctors

*****This is a Day of the Doctor fix-it. Some dialogue will be similar but most will be changed. I hope you like the changes.

~DW~~DW~~DW~

Rose picked up the fez and arched an eyebrow. She had a good idea where this had come from, but wasn't entirely sure. So, she did the only thing she could think of. She launched it back through the Vortex that she had created. She clasped hands with the Doctor again and stepped through the portal.

~DW~~DW~~DW~

The Tenth Doctor was confused. Well, confused didn't cover it. Here he was, in 1562, chasing Zygons and apparently getting engaged. And married. No way really to get out of that one. Oh, and let's not forget the future incarnation of himself currently intruding on his adventure. That was just rude!

A snap of a twig brought his attention back to the present. In sequence, both Ten and Eleven whipped their heads around to see two people they never thought they would see again. The one who ended it all and Rose Tyler.

~DW~~DW~~DW~

A red hot rage coursed through him at the image of his lost love. What little thought, he pinned her against a tree, sonic poised against her temple.

"Of all the faces you could've stolen, why this one? Give me one good reason why I shouldn't end you right now."

Rose smirked before her eyes glowed golden. The Tenth Doctor found himself face first against the tree as she disappeared and reappeared behind him.

"Silly Doctor. How can they steal they face of someone who isn't here?" Rose moved quickly, pinning him against the tree, her face millimeters from his own.

"Are you afraid of the Big Bad Wolf, Doctor?"

"I was never afraid of Bad Wolf. Just of losing her." Rose smiled her unique smile, with her tongue touched to the corner of her teeth. She felt him relax slightly and she pulled away. She made her way to the Eleventh Doctor who still looked at her mistrustfully. It broke her heart. She stopped just in front of him and held out her hand. He looked at it briefly and she wiggled her fingers. It was such a simple gesture but one that brought back memories for them both. He took her hand in his own and laced their fingers together. He leaned down to her ear and whispered, where no one else could hear him.

"I don't care how you're back. I've missed you. And even if this is just a dream, I'll be happy with one more day at your side."

~DW~~DW~~DW~

The Eighth Doctor looked on as Rose reunited with his future selves. She'd told him that he would be seeing his future and he was. Already he could see the changes in his future selves since Rose showed up. It was if a tangible aura of dread had lifted from the shoulders of both men. They still seemed to be uneasy around him, but he understood. His decision was still to be made but they didn't know that. As far as they were concerned, he had already done whatever deed. He had a good idea what that outcome was but he needed to see more to truly understand. He needed to know more about them.

~DW~~DW~~DW~

"So, engaged to the Queen?" The Tenth Doctor rubbed the back of his neck.

"Well, I thought she was a Zygon." Rose burst out laughing, as did both of the other Doctors. While they were distracted, the Queen's own personal guard surrounded them.

"We're looking for the Doctor." The Eighth Doctor raised an eyebrow and looked at Rose.

"Well, this just happens to be your lucky day."

~DW~~DW~~DW~

The cell, while not small, was extremely dank. It smelled of earth, mildew and moisture. Pretty typical for a dungeon, really. And they were all avoiding one another. Well, the Doctors were avoiding one another. Well, the other two were avoiding the Eighth Doctor. It was difficult for them to, since Rose insisted on sitting beside him. While the Tenth Doctor had lost her much more recently, both wanted to run to her. But they held themselves in check, because of him. They noticed her giving them looks from the corner of her eye but other than that, she made no indication that she knew they were in the room. She seemed mostly content to sit there silently with him and ignore the two of them. Neither really knew what to do about that.

As for Rose and the Eighth Doctor, they were exhausted. They had run from Arcadia during the midst of a several day long battle. Then, they had gotten the Moment and trudged through miles of Gallifreyan desert to a shed in the middle of nowhere. So, they sat in companionable silence, watching the other two.

Rose nudged the Doctor she was sitting beside.

"You should ask them. You might never get another chance." He looked at her in fear before standing and approaching the other two. They looked at him warily, both casting a glance at Rose. Rose, however, was looking at the Eight Doctor, concern evident on her face.

"Did you ever count?" The other two Doctors shared a glance but Eleven answered.

"Count what?"

"How many children there were on Gallifrey that day." Eleven flapped his hands, trying to distract himself or Eight, he doesn't know. He really didn't want to answer this question. He could feel the anger coming from Ten in waves and he could even feel the disappointment from Rose, all the way across the room.

"I have absolutely no idea."

"How old are you now?"

"Ah, I don't know. I lose track. Twelve hundred and something, I think, unless I'm lying. I can't remember if I'm lying about my age, that's how old I am."

"Four hundred years older than me, and in all that time you've never even wondered how many there were? You never once counted?"

"Tell me, what would be the point?" He felt the moment Ten snapped.

"Two point four seven billion." Eight turned to Ten, eyes wide.

"You did count!" Ten rounded on Eleven. He advanced towards his older counterpart, face inches from the other's.

"You forgot? Four hundred years, is that all it takes?" Eleven looked vaguely uncomfortable. His eyes shifted towards Rose, then back to Ten.

"I moved on."

"Where? Where can you be now that you can forget something like that?"

"Spoilers."

"No. No, no, no. For once I would like to know where I'm going."

"No, you really wouldn't."

Rose noticed the tension had risen considerably. Before, they had been hatching separate plans on how to get out but she really needed them to work together. That would be the only way this would work.

~DW~~DW~~DW~

Each of them noticed as soon as Rose stood. They eyed her warily, still only partially believing she was there and not a figment of their imagination. It wouldn't be the first time they had dreamed of her. Or hallucinated for that matter. Her being there just seemed…impossible.

"You know, you really shouldn't use that word. Especially not in reference to me."

"Which word?" It was Ten who answered. He'd been thinking the loudest about her. The one who missed her the most. That wasn't quite true. They both missed her. It was just that his pain was more recent and raw.

"Impossible."

"How did..." Rose answered his question before he really had the chance to voice it.

"I'm a telepath and empath now. And not just touch. You've been broadcasting loudly and I can't help but pick up a few things here or there. Besides, I know you. You associate that word with me too much and I always prove you wrong. Sending me away at the Game Station? I bond with the heart of your TARDIS so I can come back. Trapped in a parallel universe? I build a dimension cannon to fling myself back to you. And being here, right now. You thought me safely locked away with your double, yet here I am. Against all odds, back at your side. Albeit, it's a younger you, but still. How many times do I have to promise you forever before you believe it?"

"Many, apparently." Ten smiled sheepishly. Eleven shot her a crooked smile.

"First, though, we need to figure out how to get in here. My companion is in the tower in the future. I'm trying to scratch out coordinates so she can use the Vortex Manipulator in the Black Archives to get here. Barring all else, she can teleport on the other side of the door and open it for us. Worst case, she'll end up stuck in here."

"So, what you're saying is that we need a back up plan." Eleven shrugged. Rose smirked, eyes bright with a memory.

"Resonating concrete." Eight looked at her confused.

"What?"

"Theoretically, you could use the sonic to disintegrate the door."

"That would take centuries." Eight and Ten still looked confused while Eleven looked thoughtful. Rose smiled before answering.

"Fundamentally, your screwdriver. It's the same software, correct?"

"Well, yes"

"So, theoretically, you could scan it with a much older version-"

"It would take centuries but yes." Rose simply raised an eyebrow at the youngest Doctor. It took a moment before realization dawned on him. He whipped out his sonic and scanned the door. He programmed it to run in the background. Ten checked his before shaking his head. Finally, Eleven lifted his, checking.

"Scan complete."

"Same software. Different case," Eight said.

"Same software. Different face." They all grinned at one another before Eleven pointed his sonic at the door. Before he had a chance to activate it, it swung open. A short girl with brown hair and wide eyes burst through the door, almost falling.

"How did you do that?"

"It wasn't locked. Wait, three Doctors in a room and none of you thought to check the door?"

"It was supposed to be locked. But it wasn't which begs the question: why?"

"I wanted to see what you would do upon escaping. I understand you are rather fond of this world. It's time you see what will happen to it."